Autism Service Dog Feature: Maeve's Story 

Same, I was BLATANTLY autistic, couldn't make friends, got full marks on tests then spent school breaks alone spinning in circles, always wanted to do the same thing, and a million other things, but apparently my mum didn't want me to have a label so she literally left me to suffer. Didn't even mention in to me until after I left school and even then she got my sister to bring it up. It was such a relief I was like 'I literally always thought I was autistic but didn't think anyone would listen if I brought it up' I didn't get officially diagnosed til I was 30 though, I didn't see the point getting diagnosed before that, I knew I was autistic, a diagnosis meant nothing, but I eventually had to get an official diagnosis for my disability. Now I have a chihuahua trained as my autism dog lol and will soon be getting a lab so it can perform more tasks (I'd literally JUST bought a chi pup when I discovered owner training was an option and couldn't just go out and get another dog so decided to work with my chi for a few years to establish whether I was actually capable of training my own service dog and if it would really help me which I have now confirmed so once I move to a new home I'll be getting a lab and start training it as my next service dog )

@@lailahepburnandmischka i’m still a teenager myself, my mother calls them “quirks” though my father and stepmother are nearly certain i’m somewhere on the spectrum. she refuses to get me diagnosed and doesn’t want a label on me. bc to her i’m “not autistic enough” because i can talk and hold conversation??? (bc i have been forced to mask for so long LOL) i’d adore a service dog but they’re expensive :(

@@lailahepburnandmischka That's so sweet that you have a little chihuahua service dog; I didn't know tiny breeds could be certified!

@@viktor1312 was just about to reply to you then saw your comment us from a year ago 0_o I'm guna reply anyway lol If you're capable of intense training you can train your own service dog (depending where you live, US and Uk both allow owner training) It's hard work though, first you have to teach the puppy basics and get your pup really well behaved ,then have to teach service dog tasks and do public access training. It's hard work and many people fail, you really gotta know what you're doing (I spent like a year researching first) but if you succeed it'll be totally worth it :)

@@TheSoftestGirlYouKnow he does thinks like self harm interruptions and grounding during meltdowns/panic attacks etc He's also trained for some medical alerts as well as the autism stuff, but mainly I need it for autism so I now have a lab in training to replace him as his size makes him less effective and he's too small to do deep pressure therapy or crowd control which my lab is has started learning already, she's great at deep leisure therapy, she's like half the size of a normal lab but she's a good size for what I need :)

What breed?

@@urfavblondegirlie I have "High-functioning" autism & scoliosis. I probably would not be able to live independently alone without my service dog. Thanks to Chevas(my service dog)I can enjoy my life. 💖

How you guy got tha kinf a dog. I try to got one for my child. He's autistic. But i can't find.

QUEVEDO DUARTE you need to talk to your son’s doctor about a service dog being an appropriate method if treatment and if the doctor says yes, then you can apply with a program and find your son a dog!! Good luck!!!

Ellie Meow I have Asperger’s and I trained my helper dog (like a SD without public access) myself. When I got her I didn’t even know I had autism and adhd, but then I taught her tha tasks and everything myself :) If you would like to know more just ask!

Do steps. Go into the garden Go to your neighbours front yard E.g

You can owner train your own service dog x

@@elloguvna6820 Unfortunately with autism a lot of exposure therapy doesn’t help. We actually have a higher sensitivity to light and sound, so instead of getting used to it we just dissociate :(

@@catgod6531 IK I have it ):

Same but my parents said but until our current dog isn't with us anymore which I get but it's difficult because I need one before then

@@willowhenry9839 I hope you eventually get one I’m training my own service dog now as I can’t afford to buy a already trained one

I have my earbuds too, but there’s still some sound that gets through. How do you feel about headphones? I have one with noise cancellation and it’s a life-saver. Bose has some good ones.

You would; in the UK they do train assistance dogs for autistic people. You can't go through any of the charities that are part of the ADUK coalition as they stop training dogs for kids over the age of 7 1/2 - 10 depending on the charity. But there are companies that can help. For example Autism Dogs CIC.